Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1887-11-10
MEN IN THEIR BONES.
WHERE THOSE THAT HANG IN
DOCTORS CLOSETS COME FROM.

An Industry Without American Foot
hold - Thirty Dollar Skeletons OF
Rather Inferior Cuality-A Fine Sort
ArticuIated with Silver Plated Wire.
The doctor began TO talk about skeletons
He drew trade circular, issued by whole
sale dealer in surgical instruments and sup
plies. from his pocket The circular con-
/ tanned an annual review of the surgical IN
strunents aud supplies market. Part way
/ down the neatly printed page appeared this
paragraph, which the doctor read
skeletons have ruled firm and active
throughout the year, with prices unchanged.
We have been able to supply the demand for
the common varieties promptly, but the
finger grades were scarce, and orders for de-
fornlities could not always be filed at once.
In this regard the market IS still unchanged,
although our broker in Paris has orders TO
/ buy everything offered at the usual rates. "
The doctor read the paragraph much as
bows on the street eat ice cream out OF the
penny goblets they buy of Italian vendors,
that is. slowly and with evident relish When
he had finished it and folded the circular, he
sid:
There Is no branch of the enormous I'M
port trade OF the American people 50 interest
ing as the trade in skeletons, although its
magnitude and Importance are known to but
few. Not that its magnitude or value make
it interesting: il attracts attention solely be
cause the article Is III itself fascinating. But
there are features OF the trade that may not
escape the eve of the political economist For
instance, this great nation OF GO,Go,GGo CT
people is wholly dependent on foreign coun-
tries for its skeletons Not but what physi-
clan here and there may have a specimen
which has been untnely snatched from the
country graveyard, but the stock skeletons
Of the country arc all imported, and that,
toe, simply because the pauper labor Of the
old world is able TO string bones together for
less money than an american lab0rer could
1--we and pay taxes Oh.
ANATOMICAL. KNOWLEDGE.
1.-THE man who can put the bones Of the
human franc together must be an anatomist;
he must know, for instance, where the collar
bone is located and what its functions are.
No anatomist, not even pauper anatOm.so
in the morgue il Paris, would be so foolish as
to rest the butt OF q gun containing four
drains of powder and an ounce and q quarter
of shot on his collar bone, and II that posi-
ton fire is. Collar bones were not made for
ouch use Now, although possessed Of so
much more knowledge than some SportSmen,
the Paris anatonlist is willing to work for o
franc day, and the capitalist who employs
him is thus enabled to sell skeletons at such
g low rate that oven new ledged doctors IN
America cannot compete.
Incredible as il may seem, q skeleton well
mounted and neatly packed III q white pine
box can be had for the small sum Of $50. The
box can be stood on end, with the skeleton
hanging from the top bya screw running
down through the skull. If the box is covered
with red plush and lined with blue satin the
simple packing case becomes q neat, attrac
tive and economical anatomical closet OF
course, most physicians prefer black val
nut cabinet, with glass doors covered with
red curtain, but that is matter Of taste,
not that | would recommend any one to
purchase $50 skeleton unless for temporary
use They are not over substantial; they
cannot be polished up very nicely, and they
are apt 10 clumble. You see, the $50 skele-
Cons are taken from ths corpses Of people web
advanced in life, Ike yourself, where the cal
careous matter predominates in the boneA
Besides some people have bones that are
naturally more brittle than other peoples.
The anatomist in the Paris skeleton factory
IS able to tell by the looks Of the subject just
how far he may go in whitening The bones
for mounting, for the whitening process tends
to make the bones more brittle than they are
naturally The skeleton of young person
whose bones are of the right quality viii
stand q great deal of work, and q great deal
Of work, even at q frame day, means an eli
HANGED price 4 first class Skeleton viii bring
Sl25, and at that figure it would be q delight
to the profession, having silver plated wire
calculations, and everything in style. Now
and then some man with an artistic taste in
ouch matters viii have skeleton mounted
with Sold silver. Although not quite so sub !
stantial or well able to stand the rough usage |
to which students bject such specimens, this |
love of the beautiful ought by all means 10 be |
encouraged.